Post by Fuck Mike Brown on Nov 7, 2007 21:10:28 GMT -5
I will do the Reds minor league report every week on Wednesday.
- Recently, Baseball America named it's list for the top players in the triple A International League. Here they are:
1. Jay Bruce, of, Louisville Bats (Reds)
2. Homer Bailey, rhp, Louisville Bats (Reds)
3. Matt Garza, rhp, Rochester Red Wings (Twins)
4. Josh Fields, 3b, Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
5. Jed Lowrie, ss, Pawtucket Red Sox
6. Jacoby Ellsbury, of, Pawtucket Red Sox
7. Brent Lillibridge, ss, Richmond Braves
8. Yunel Escobar, ss, Richmond Braves
9. Jeff Niemann, rhp, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
10. Joey Votto, 1b/of, Louisville Bats (Reds)
11. Adam Miller, rhp, Buffalo Bisons (Indians)
12. Garrett Olson, lhp, Norfolk Tides (Orioles)
13. Brandon Moss, of, Pawtucket Red Sox
14. Brandon Jones, of, Richmond Braves
15. Adam Lind, of, Syracuse Chiefs (Blue Jays)
16. Collin Balester, rhp, Columbus Clippers (Nationals)
17. Jason Hammel, rhp, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
18. Kevin Slowey, rhp, Rochester Red Wings (Twins)
19. Aaron Laffey, lhp, Buffalo Bisons (Indians)
20. Jason Pridie, of, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
As you can see, the Reds have three players on the list. All of them are in the top ten, with the first two all belonging to the Reds. Outfielder Jay Bruce is just incredible. He started in high single A, then moved to double after sixty four, and then to triple A after a short time in Chattanooga. The fact that he played just fifty games for Louisville in Triple A and still won Baseball American's Minor League Player of the Year Award and now is at the top of this list means that he is truly special. He had a .305 average with eleven home runs and twenty five RBIs with the Bats. Bruce might get a shot at the starting job for right field if Ken Griffey Jr. or another outfielder is traded during the offseason.
The next prospect is starting pitcher Homer Bailey. For the last couple years, Bailey has been ranked at the top of minor league pitchers along with the Yankees hurler Phil Hughes. Bailey dominated at triple A until July when he was called up to pitch for the Reds. He looked good at first, but was horrendous at the end. His season ended when he had a groin injury. Many Cincinnati fans panicked at Bailey's bad start. But, they shouldn't. No new problems were created with his time as a Red. We all knew that he had control problems and that he would need to work on them. Hopefully Bailey has made his control much better, and can find the strike zone with something other than his fastball. It's looking good that Bailey will find a spot in the Reds rotation for next season with the Reds desperately needing pitching. It would be very good if Bailey could make all the hype surrounding him come true.
The last player on the list is first basemen Joey Votto. Votto has always been considered a great hitter. He struggled in his first month at triple A, but then caught fire in May and June. In September, he got called up to Cincinnati and instantly found himself in a fist base platoon, meaning that he started whenever a right hander started for the opposition. Votto was very good in his time up, batting .321 with four home runs with seventeen RBIs. I think it is clear that Votto can hit for a high average with some pop. But, the question with him is his fielding. Votto has struggled playing first base, often being out of position. But, in his month with the Reds, he looked very good at doing that. That is why many think Scott Hatteberg's option was picked up. He can mentor Votto with his fielding and also help him become more of a professional hitter. Votto should have the first base position locked up for next year, even with Hatteberg. I expect him to pick right up where he left off at the end of last season.
- Tomorrow I will do an update on the Reds Arizona Fall League stats. Sorry I couldn't do the today. And next week I will do a complete Reds minor league review.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/weekly-reds-minor-league-report.html
- Recently, Baseball America named it's list for the top players in the triple A International League. Here they are:
1. Jay Bruce, of, Louisville Bats (Reds)
2. Homer Bailey, rhp, Louisville Bats (Reds)
3. Matt Garza, rhp, Rochester Red Wings (Twins)
4. Josh Fields, 3b, Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
5. Jed Lowrie, ss, Pawtucket Red Sox
6. Jacoby Ellsbury, of, Pawtucket Red Sox
7. Brent Lillibridge, ss, Richmond Braves
8. Yunel Escobar, ss, Richmond Braves
9. Jeff Niemann, rhp, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
10. Joey Votto, 1b/of, Louisville Bats (Reds)
11. Adam Miller, rhp, Buffalo Bisons (Indians)
12. Garrett Olson, lhp, Norfolk Tides (Orioles)
13. Brandon Moss, of, Pawtucket Red Sox
14. Brandon Jones, of, Richmond Braves
15. Adam Lind, of, Syracuse Chiefs (Blue Jays)
16. Collin Balester, rhp, Columbus Clippers (Nationals)
17. Jason Hammel, rhp, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
18. Kevin Slowey, rhp, Rochester Red Wings (Twins)
19. Aaron Laffey, lhp, Buffalo Bisons (Indians)
20. Jason Pridie, of, Durham Bulls (Devil Rays)
As you can see, the Reds have three players on the list. All of them are in the top ten, with the first two all belonging to the Reds. Outfielder Jay Bruce is just incredible. He started in high single A, then moved to double after sixty four, and then to triple A after a short time in Chattanooga. The fact that he played just fifty games for Louisville in Triple A and still won Baseball American's Minor League Player of the Year Award and now is at the top of this list means that he is truly special. He had a .305 average with eleven home runs and twenty five RBIs with the Bats. Bruce might get a shot at the starting job for right field if Ken Griffey Jr. or another outfielder is traded during the offseason.
The next prospect is starting pitcher Homer Bailey. For the last couple years, Bailey has been ranked at the top of minor league pitchers along with the Yankees hurler Phil Hughes. Bailey dominated at triple A until July when he was called up to pitch for the Reds. He looked good at first, but was horrendous at the end. His season ended when he had a groin injury. Many Cincinnati fans panicked at Bailey's bad start. But, they shouldn't. No new problems were created with his time as a Red. We all knew that he had control problems and that he would need to work on them. Hopefully Bailey has made his control much better, and can find the strike zone with something other than his fastball. It's looking good that Bailey will find a spot in the Reds rotation for next season with the Reds desperately needing pitching. It would be very good if Bailey could make all the hype surrounding him come true.
The last player on the list is first basemen Joey Votto. Votto has always been considered a great hitter. He struggled in his first month at triple A, but then caught fire in May and June. In September, he got called up to Cincinnati and instantly found himself in a fist base platoon, meaning that he started whenever a right hander started for the opposition. Votto was very good in his time up, batting .321 with four home runs with seventeen RBIs. I think it is clear that Votto can hit for a high average with some pop. But, the question with him is his fielding. Votto has struggled playing first base, often being out of position. But, in his month with the Reds, he looked very good at doing that. That is why many think Scott Hatteberg's option was picked up. He can mentor Votto with his fielding and also help him become more of a professional hitter. Votto should have the first base position locked up for next year, even with Hatteberg. I expect him to pick right up where he left off at the end of last season.
- Tomorrow I will do an update on the Reds Arizona Fall League stats. Sorry I couldn't do the today. And next week I will do a complete Reds minor league review.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/weekly-reds-minor-league-report.html
